Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar has criticised Plaid Cymru and told First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth to “get on with the day job” instead of focusing on the prospect of independence.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham on Sunday, Mr Millar said the Plaid Cymru leader had promised to focus on “fixing things” in the lead-up to May's historic Senedd election, which saw Labour ousted from power. However, Mr Millar argued that Mr ap Iorwerth's “real plan” was to “draw a slate curtain between Wales and the rest of the UK.”
Call for focus on public services
“Britain needs Badenoch,” Mr Millar told gathered delegates.
The comments come after Mr ap Iorwerth called for a “new deal” for Wales from the UK Government at Plaid Cymru's conference in Llandudno on Friday. In an interview with WalesOnline ahead of his conference, the First Minister defended his stance on independence, arguing that he is the only leader in the Senedd who “genuinely believes in Wales.”
Mr Millar said in his speech that the Welsh Government must focus on fixing public services and defend the relationship between the four countries of the UK, saying his party “will never allow” the break-up of the union.
Criticism of Plaid Cymru's record
“A plan to draw a slate curtain between Wales and the rest of the UK will cause more harm than good for our children and future generations,” he said.
He pointed to rising NHS waiting lists and claimed Welsh businesses have “continued to struggle” since Plaid came to power.
Mr Millar also criticised Mr ap Iorwerth for deciding to “cosy up to the SNP and Sinn Fein,” referencing a recent meeting in Cardiff between the three countries' leaders which saw them sign a memorandum of understanding and declare “Westminster's time is coming to an end.”
“He then signed a pact to promote the break-up of our United Kingdom,” the Tory leader said. “The whole jamboree was seized upon by Vladimir Putin's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, who gleefully spoke up on Russian TV about the prospect of independence referendums across the UK. So my message to Rhun ap Iorwerth today is this - get on with the day job.”
Plaid Cymru leader defends meeting
Speaking to WalesOnline, the Plaid Cymru leader defended the meeting. “Is it right for the leader of Plaid Cymru to speak with other like-minded people about how we can work together? I absolutely think it is,” he said.
Mr Millar also claimed Mr ap Iorwerth “deceived” the Welsh public. “He told voters in May that the Senedd election was not about independence,” Mr Millar said. “Well, either he didn't get his own memo…or he deliberately chose to deceive people. Because just like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, the Plaid Piper of Anglesey has tried to hoodwink people.
“He promised to focus on fixing things, but his real plan, a plan to draw a slate curtain between Wales and the rest of the UK will cause more harm than good for our children and future generations.”
